We first launched our Giving Meals program on a snowy, sub-freezing day in December 2020. The idea was simple: we enabled guests to purchase a $6 Straight Up Gift meal or a $12 Giving Meal (get a meal, give a meal) for someone in need and then the restaurant made and distributed those meals to the folks living without shelter in and around Five Points. The first person to participate bought ten meals, so we dished out ten hot servings of chicken noodle soup, packed them up, and Obe and I personally walked them down the block to a tent encampment in the alleyway. Since then, we have hand-delivered almost 4,000 hot, wholesome meals (as well as bottled water, sanitizer and toilet paper) to our unhoused neighbors. We plan to continue those efforts as long as there are hungry people in the neighborhood.
The Preservery Values, Illustrated by Lexie Baker (@psychedelicious.lex)
Now we have created a brand-new way for guests to contribute to these efforts - Giving Merch! We partnered with local artist Lexie Baker on a design that represents The Preservery values: Black Lives Matter, No Person is Illegal, Women's Rights are Human Rights, Love is Love, Science is Real, Trans Lives Matter, and Diversity and Inclusion Makes Us Strong! Local company Lab Seven printed the design on soft, sustainable, American-made hoodies and tees. Each shirt purchased will contribute one meal toward the Giving Meal program.
The Giving Merch is live on the online store and available for pre-purchase. Orders will be taken from now until March 27th and shipped (or available for pick-up) by April. You can also find shirts available for purchase on-site at the restaurant while supplies last.